The Tigers are a'comin - Hull City Preview

Bristol City vs Hull City

Match Preview

Phil Brown's Hull City side arrive at Ashton Gate tomorrow afternoon in fine form, a run of six matches without a single loss has culminated in The Tigers chasing the playoffs when some said it was too late. Having a game in hand on sixth placed Charlton and being only two points behind the Londoners means a top six spot is now a distict possibility. With new found hope comes a sense of pressure however, how will Brown and his Humber-side deal with it all? Well, if last weekends 2-1 away victory at The Hawthorns against the impressive West Bromwich Albion is anything to go by, Hull City seem to mean business.

How They Line Up

Similar to Bristol City have in recent weeks, The Tigers utilise a 4-5-1 system, with former City loanee Boaz Myhill in goal, Welsh international Sam Ricketts at right full back, former Bolton star Henrik Pedersen at left back and the no nonsense centre back pairing of Wayne Brown and Michael Turner. In midfield, Richard Garcia plays wide on the right, ex-England international Nicky Barmby on the left, with experienced captain Ian Ashbee and the exciting Simon Walton in the centre of midfield. Playing in the hole, ala Nicky Carle is the charismatic, world renowned Jay-Jay Okocha. Playing the lone striker role is the highly rated Frazier Campbell, a striker on loan from Manchester United who posesses lightning pace, and with 3 goals in three games, an abundance of confidence.
However, at West Bromwich, Brown reverted to the tried and trusted 4-4-2 with Dawson coming in at left back, Pedersen moving wide left midfield and £1 million pound man Caleb Folan replacing Simon Walton and playing up top with Campbell. It was Campbell and Folan who scored the goals, so perhaps 4-4-2 will be the favoured formation for Phil Brown against Bristol City?

Latest News

Michael Turner, their dominant centre half misses out through suspension, and with no experienced centre back to take his place at the back, it will be interesting to see how Phil Brown manages the problem. Will Dawson play centre half, with Pedersen playing at left back? Will a young centre half be used and will he have the physicality to battle Adebola for 90 minutes? Or will captain Ian Ashbee be used as an emergency centre half? Turner's absence is good news, as their back 4 is relatively short, so set plays could prove crucial again. Dean Windass, the 39 year old forward who always seems to score at Ashton Gate is facing a fitness battle to be able to play. Despite his age Windass is an incredibly effective forward, top scoring so far with 12 goals this season. If he is unable to play, familiar face Michael Bridges is back from a loan spell at Sydney FC and will be pushing for a start. I wonder what the reaction of City fans will be towards Bridges? I imagine it will be indifferent, as he never really got going before Johnson smelt a rat. Hull darling boy Nicky Barmby looks likely to miss out, having suffered an injury against Colchester a few weeks back. Sorry ladies...

City News

With Bradley Orr's sending off against Colchester on Saturday, this game will be the first of a two game suspension, leaving a hole in the right back berth, and according to Assistant Manager Keith Millen, Louis Carey will start dependent on a successful return from injury. It will be tough for Louis to come back from injury and play against the likes of Pedersen and France, but he is the one player you want on your front line (in a battle, not one on one with the 'keeper) his commitment to the club astounds me at times, despite being sent to Coventry. Just as a side note how will a not fully fit Carey deal with the electric Scott Sinclair on Tuesday night???? If the injection Louis is due to have is unsuccessful in allowing our captain to return we have the willing Brian Wilson and Cole Skuse as possible replacements, and even the much talked about youth team captain Christian Ribiero, who is apparently first team bound soon.
With the possibility of Hull using a 4-5-1 I am wondering about the mindset of Nicky Carle, who by all accounts has been kept from playing due to teams operating man marking in a 4-5-1 system. Could Johnson use a 4-4-2 and place a forward alongside Adebola by replacing Carle with Byfield or Trundle? With the re-shuffle in Hull's back line I think this may prove successful, but Johnson is not a fan of changing a winning side, and rightly so.

LIKELY LINE UP

BASSO
CAREY MCCOMBE FONTAINE MCCALLISTER
SPROULE JOHNSON ELLIOTT MCINDOE
CARLE
ADEBOLA

We will be in for a better style of football with Hull than the direct tactics of Warnock and Crystal Palace last Monday week, with Hull counter attacking at pace and the ball retention of Okocha will mean they will have long spells of possession tomorrow. I am hoping for an open attacking brand of Championship football, with City winning 2-1. C'mon you reds!!!!

TRIVIA

A useless piece of afterthought for you - the last time Wayne Brown, Hull's fairly thuggish but reliable centre back played at Ashton Gate was Colchester's bore draw that was broadcast on Sky Tv. He was sent off that day, for bitch slapping Michael Bridges, perhaps lightning could strike twice and we could see a situation like Bradley Orr at Northampton last season????


Ross Verbals

Bristol City - Life Consuming

As a Bristol City season ticket holder at Ashton Gate for the last 11 years, I can honestly say being in the beautifully traditional English football stadium has never felt better or more important. The club, fresh from a second placed finish in League One were promoted to the Coca Cola Championship, a league which attends more fans per week than Serie A. What has this meant for our club?



TRANSFER KITTY

Well, with Gary Johnson as manager,we had prided ourselves on shrewd signings for little or no money - see Phil Jevons (Free transfer - 43 appearances, 11 goals). With the help of Jevons' goals we were promoted last season, but with the promise of a greater quality of opponents in The Championship, Steve Landsdown placed his hands inside those deep pockets. To the delight of us fans, we have spent somewhere in the region of £3 million on the likes of Lee Trundle, Michael McIndoe, Ivan Sproule, Nick Carle and Dele Adebola. All players of great attacking prowess and intent who play passing football at pace.



NEW STADIUM?

It has also seen the unveiling of a potential new stadium, which if it is granted will be situated in Long Ashton and will seat 30,000 or if the bid for the 2018 world cup is accepted, 40,000 people. This is a huge deal, but I do have some reservations about the process, having seen Coventry unveil a smashing stadium, only for it to consume the club and force it into administration. I have a soft spot for Ashton Gate, and I always will.



NATIONAL EXPOSURE

Thirdly, the exposure of Bristol City has improved tenfold, with Sky Sports, newspapers and online avenues all paying an interest in the goings on at our proud, but somewhat bewildered club. From the praises of Gary Johnson, a manager that inexplicably still does not have 100% backing at Ashton Gate, mostly to do with what some fans see as nepotism. Lee Johnson, the managers son is a player of great ability, and specifically in the 4-5-1 that we favour this season, he plays a pivotal role linking play between defence and attack. The manager gained the club its greatest media exposure with the Liam Fontaine debacle, where in an interview with BCFC World TV, Johnson quipped "If Fontaine ever scores, I will show my backside in Burton's window" Enter Fontaine, away from home at Molinuex, trailing 1-0 against a buoyant Wolverhampton side as ex Wolves man McIndoe, who was booed the whole game by the home fans whipped in a free kick. The centre back who had previously gone his whole professional career without scoring a single goal rose at the back post and headed across goal into the corner of the net. With the prospect of Johnsons arse on public view, Soccer AM wisely decided that rather go through the bare bottomed anguish, Johnson should 'Take one for the team'. Fontaine had three shots at trying to kick a ball at the boss' behind, but in keeping with Fontaine's scoring record, he failed to hit the target. Bristol City brighten up a landscape of football, which since the early nineties has been lacking in charisma and bravado.



So, to the team in its current climate, I shall brief on each player and rank their performance this year so far:



Basso - Our Brazilian goalkeeper is a firm fans favourite, who keeps you occupied for the whole ninety minutes, when he is not raising his hands in prayer he is star jumping on the spot, and when he is not doing that he is making some spectacular made for TV saves. I am going to be controversial, and say he had a better season last year, however he is undoubtedly our number one. 8/10



Orr - Bradley Orr was bought as a box-to-box midfielder but has excelled in his now custom right back slot. He works hard, has come off best against some tricky wingers and scored some crucial goals. Two sendings off have let him down but commitment is what you expect from the guy. 9/10



McCallister - Our Scottish left-back has come back from poor games this season and shown resilience, steel and some class. A great left foot, he should create more goals with crosses like he put in for Adebola last week. His consistency is improving and he has had a good season. 7/10



Carey - Bristol born and bred (with a cap for Scotland B??) Louis is resolute and a leader. He defends with heart and the captains arm band clearly means a lot to him. A defender who can battle with target men and halt tricky strikers, Carey has been monumental. 9/10



Fontaine - Liam, with notoriety achieved for his goal scoring prowess silences the ribbing with his defensive displays. Quick, strong and with a good jump Liam has been another defensive rock. Keen to play, even at left back. 8/10



McCombe - Boom Boom McCombe as he is affectionately known, has not been playing at the consistently dominant level he was last season to gain the Player of the year award. Caught out when up against pace, he has however proved he can win a battle in the air with more direct sides. Improves with match sharpness. 7/10



Vasko - A cult hero, the Hungarian international centre-back has proved to be an important squad player. With a huge frame he is used sparingly, and is actually tremendously useful when he is playing as an emergency striker. Deceptively good with his distribution, Tamas has probably proved he is worthy of a full time contract once his loan expires. 7/10



Elliott - Marvellous Marvin has been a revelation, a bosman signing from Millwall, little was expected of him, but his all out performances have earned him the praises of the Ashton Gate crowd. A great engine, he provides constant pressure to the opposition and has chipped in with some goals too. 9/10



Johnson - Lee, despite his vocal critics has performed well this year and having overcome a patchy mid season he looks assured in the 4-5-1 formation currently deployed. Crucial with his range of passing from open play and his usually excellent set plays. 8/10



Carle - A January transfer window capture, we have not seen the best of Nick yet I feel. Playing in the advanced midfield position, he has yet to really grasp games by the scruff of the neck, but with Johnson's recently improved displays it hasn't been too apparent. Will improve with match fitness. 6/10



Noble - The hero who scored the goals to clinch promotion has been off the rails this season. His performance against Sheffield United was monumental, but soon after he faded, struggling with injuries and fitness. A quality player who I enjoy watching, needs to earn his spot back. 6/10



Skuse - With the arrival of Elliott, Skuse's career has stuttered this season, and it is a shame as he shows much promise. Limited to substitute appearances when we are defending a lead. 6/10



Murray - Scott Murray is a hero of mine, who has that charismatic sense of gamesmanship and holds affirmation with the crowd, at 33 though, his time is up. It seems he has 12 games left in a City shirt - let's hope for one more magic Murray moment. 6/10



Sproule - Fast, fast, fast. Unfortunately, his finishing lets the boy down. A direct winger, who will provide teams with a constant threat, he shows huge heart every game. 7/10



McIndoe - I feel Michael has the best footballing brain at the club, his constant changing of the wings, turns and checks puzzle defenders and win us plenty of free kicks - which prove our most dangerous threat to the goal. 9/10



Wilson - Troubled by his versatility, he struggles to hold down a spot in the team. Scored a goal at Sheffield Wednesday that could yet prove vital. 6/10



Trundle - With the weight of a £1 million price tag on his head, Lee has at times seemed overawed, although he has lacked goals, he contributes with some nice link up and hold up play. I would love to see more of his magic daps like his two strikes against Scunthorpe mind. 7/10



Adebola - With 2 in 5 so far for the man who was bought in January to boost our firepower, he has done very well, he will battle and hold the ball for our pacy wingers and attacking midfielders. Keep it up Dele. 8/10



Byfield - Top scorer Byfield has proved to be a bit of a super sub at Ashton Gate. Lots of his goals come late on in games when introduced. Pacy and clinical, Darren will work very hard defending from the front. 8/10



Currently sitting second in the league with 12 games remaining, promotion is a distinct possibility. This season has thrown up plenty of surprises, and I'm sure we are in store for some more.



So that is my season so far, I shall post a preview of the game against Hull City tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed the post



Ross Verbals